Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Sep 1998

Vol. 494 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Road Deaths.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): A total of 331 people died on our roads this year. Based on that figure the gloomy prediction must be that at least another 100 people, who are alive, active and healthy tonight, will not live to enjoy Christmas 1998; they will die on our roads. According to Dublin Corporation's road safety plan, 2,480 people were injured in Dublin last year. In spite of the carnage of the previous two weeks 14 people died on our roads in the past seven days. The reality is that the vast majority of those accidents and, consequently, those deaths could have been avoided.

Road safety and road traffic policies are not working. While I welcomed the initiative launched by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government a number of weeks ago, it is not working. I welcome initiatives such as Operation Lifesaver. In spite of the clamp-down by the Garda in the pilot project area in question, 37,000 speeding offences were detected in a three month period alone. I welcome the promotional work done by the National Safety Authority and the research being done by Beaumont Hospital into age categories of accident prone drivers, but the message is not getting home and the slaughter continues unabated.

From September 1997 to July 1998 the percentage of cars exceeding speed limits increased from 18 per cent to 28 per cent. The percentage of trucks exceeding the 50 miles per mile inter-urban speed limit increased from 37 per cent in January to 42 per cent in March. We have the statistics and we know the causes of the deaths — speed, drink, inexperienced drunk drivers, carelessness, recklessness and negligence.

A multi-pronged approach is needed. In terms of road deaths, the day of the pilot project is long gone. The annual drop in the number of accidents and drink driving offences at Christmas shows clearly that intensified enforcement works. The same level of intensive enforcement is needed not on a hit and miss basis, but all year round. It is a crude analysis but it is a fact that the fear of being caught works when it comes to deterring people.

To categorise as an accident a scene where gross negligence, speed, drink or so-called joyriding is the cause of death on the roads is a misnomer and trivialises what is manslaughter. To charge somebody with dangerous driving, having through recklessness left a family without a father or a mother, is to minimise the offence and devalue it. Manslaughter and attempted manslaughter should be the charges.

There is a need for the courts to disqualify people for speed limit excesses. There is a need for insurance companies to refuse cover irrespective of how much one is willing, able or prepared to pay. There is a need for the power of instant confiscation of vehicles for the Garda in certain situations. There is a need to change the rules for the availability and retention of provisional licences. It is ridiculous that of the 1.7 million drivers on our roads, 327,000 hold provisional licences. There is a need for an attitude change. While one would like it to happen through public awareness, civic mindedness and education, if it means forcing an attitude change, then so be it.

We introduced what was described as harsh and draconian legislation to deal with the aftermath of the horrors of the Omagh bomb. This year already more than ten times more people have died on our roads than died in Omagh. If draconian measures are required, we must not shirk this course of action. Too many innocent victims have suffered. The time for tough talking is over. Tough, effective action is now required.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Miss M. Wallace)

I thank Deputy Higgins for giving me this opportunity to outline the measures the Government is taking on this serious issue. The Government is committed to reducing the unacceptable level of deaths and serious injury on our roads. I assure the House that tackling the problem is a priority for the Government, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda authorities.

I convey my sympathy to the families of the people who have died tragically on our roads this year and in the past. A total of 332 people have been killed in road accidents to date compared to 344 in the comparable period last year. While there is a slight reduction in the total, the figures are totally unacceptable. When one remembers that 11,000 people suffered injuries in road accidents during 1997, it is clear that drastic action is necessary and I will set out the measures taken by the Government to deal with these issues.

In response to the continuing high level of accidents the Taoiseach on 21 October 1997 called a meeting of the inter agency high level group on road safety, which operates under the aegis of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and which includes representatives of my Department and the Garda Síochána. This group was mandated to prepare a national strategy on road safety. This strategy entitled "The Road to Safety", was launched by the Taoiseach on 31 July 1998.

The principal aim of the strategy is to reduce road fatalities by 2002 by a minimum of 20 per cent on their 1997 level and to achieve a similar reduction of at least 20 per cent in the number of serious injuries from road accidents. This strategy is designed to improve our road safety record vis-a-vis our European partners, Supporting targets of the strategy by 2002 are to reduce the incidence of excessive speed by 50 per cent from current levels, to increase the wearing rate of front and rear seat belts to at least 85 per cent, to reduce by 25 per cent the number of fatal road accidents, commonly drink related, occurring during the hours of darkness and to implement specific accident reduction measures at more than 400 national road locations.

Speed and alcohol have been identified as the major causes of accidents. Not wearing seat belts is also a contributory cause. These offences are also the primary focus of Operation Lifesaver to which Deputy Higgins referred which was launched on 14 July 1997.

I assure the House that the Garda is committed to vigorous enforcement of the speeding regulations. During 1997 the Garda issued 71,337 on the spot fines for speeding of which 58,458 were paid, that is, a 75 per cent rate of voluntary payment. There were 22,801 convictions for speeding in 1997. One of the aims of the national strategy is to reduce incidences of excessive speeding by 50 per cent from current levels.

Research has shown that alcohol is an important factor in up to 25 per cent of road accidents and 33 per cent of fatal accidents. The enforcement of the drink driving laws are given a high priority by the Garda Síochána. A total of 5,975 prosecutions were taken in respect of drink driving offences in 1996 and the total increased to 7,616 in 1997.

Under the road safety strategy the Garda and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety are to work towards the phased introduction of evidential breath testing, which is allowed under the Road Traffic Act, 1994. This will mean that persons will undergo a breath test at a Garda station instead of a blood and urine sample test following arrest for suspected drink driving. It is expected that evidential breath testing will lead to an increase in convictions.

Not wearing seat belts has also been identified as a major factor in road deaths and serious injury accidents. The House may be assured that the enforcement of the seat belt regulations is also given a high priority by the Garda. In 1997 there were 9,280 prosecutions for this offence compared to 6,293 in 1996. In addition, as part of Operation Lifesaver, 48,848 seat belt offences were detected from 1 January 1998 to 16 August 1998. In all these areas, the levels of detection and prosecution have increased. The national strategy aims to increase seat belt wearing by car users to 85 per cent by 2002. The strategy also envisages extending the on the spot fine system for failure to wear a seat belt.

The Garda has confirmed that Operation Lifesaver, which was introduced in the Louth-Meath area in July 1997, will continue in 1999. It was designed to increase the enforcement capacity of the Garda in relation to the key offences of excessive speed, drink driving and not wearing seat belts.

The Garda has the necessary resources in terms of manpower and equipment to help it in its road traffic enforcement role. It has the most up to date speed detection technology. The equipment in use in enforcing speed limits includes hand held radar, tripod mounted lasers, in-car video cameras as well as the GATSO unit, which, as Members are aware, is a mobile speed detection unit with on board cameras and computer facilities. The Garda has two of these units with a further three due to be delivered soon. In addition, the provision of fixed speed cameras and the development of the penalty points system are an integral part of the national strategy on road safety.

I have outlined the Government's commitment to reducing the levels of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The House can be assured the Government is determined to make progress as set out in the national strategy. The House may also be assured that the Garda is similarly committed. It will continue to use all available resources and to co-operate with all agencies involved to make our roads safer and to reduce the number of deaths and injuries. However, it must be stressed that additional resources and enforcement alone cannot succeed unless the public makes a serious effort to obey the law. There were more than 250,000 prosecutions for road traffic offences during 1997 and this sends a clear message about our observance of these laws. As Deputy Higgins said, perhaps an attitude change is required. Undoubtedly, the laws are there to be obeyed and it is in everyone's interest in terms of safety on our roads to play our part.